Kirsty Wark has appealed to the public for their backing to help Scottish Ballet raise the final £1 million needed to create a new home at Tramway for Scotland’s national dance Company.
Patron of the Scottish Ballet Tramway Appeal, Kirsty said: “The creation of a fitting home for Scottish Ballet, Scotland’s national dance company, is a significant moment in our cultural history. At long last, this impressive Company that has been delighting capacity audiences across the UK, and touching the lives of so many people through its education programmes, will have suitable premises in which to create, develop and deliver its work.
“The planned building will provide infrastructure from which Scottish Ballet can reach its full potential. I urge people to join me in supporting Scottish Ballet in this exceptional project. We will be helping to develop a national asset that we can all enjoy, and of which we can be very proud. “
Scottish Ballet is currently housed in a former army drill hall in the West End of Glasgow; the Victorian building is confined, dilapidated and prone to flooding. The dance spaces are constrained and poorly equipped - two studios are so confined that dancers cannot perform a full lift and the entire Company cannot rehearse together.
Designed by award-winning Malcolm Fraser Architects, the project will renovate parts of Glasgow’s international arts centre, Tramway, and create a new building on an adjacent derelict site.
Work to create the new premises has begun and Scottish Ballet’s 82 staff and dancers are expected to move in to Tramway at the beginning of 2009.
Scottish Ballet’s ambitious plans for a new home at Tramway were given the green light in November 2006, by Glasgow City Council’s Planning Committee and the decision was ratified by the Scottish Executive. The Scottish Arts Council, Scottish Executive, Glasgow City Council and Scottish Enterprise Glasgow have all pledged funding in support of the project.
The Foyle Foundation, The Wolfson Foundation, Glasgow-based Robertson Trust and The Gannochy Trust in Perth are just some of the charitable bodies that have already committed generous gifts to the Appeal.
Donations can be made through the Scottish Ballet website at www.scottishballet.co.uk or by writing to Scottish Ballet Tramway Appeal, 261 West Princes Street, Glasgow G4 9EE.
